Letters, calligraphic favors, legal documents and photographs from the papers of Alfred J. Cox, Chicago book binder and collector. Correspondents include: William Cox and William Cox, Jr. (grandfather and father of A.J. Cox); James Cox (uncle of William Jr.); Jonathan Evans (adoptive father of A.J. Cox); Jane E. French (later Mrs. Alfred J. Cox); Louisa Field (cousin); W.I. Wilson and H.V. Whalen (Chicago businessmen). Photos are of A.J. Cox and his library.

Primarily correspondence (129 letters) of Illinois farmer and Civil War soldier Carlos W. Colby, written between 1862 and 1865, to his sisters, brother, brother-in-law, and niece, plus a dozen Civil War letters written by Colby’s future brother-in-law James Rowe. Also includes Colby’s reminiscences of his boyhood and his service in the 97th Illinois Volunteer Infantry Regiment, some family correspondence, genealogical material and a few photos.

58 prints of Chicago lakefront and river scenes, found in a manila envelope marked: “Prints from glass negatives produced by the Corps of Engineers ca. 1890; originals now with the Chicago Maritime Society.”

Fifty-five letters and fragments of letters from George Deal, Ohio Union soldier in the Civil War, to his wife Sarah Cole Deal. Also, photographs of Sarah and George Deal, photocopies of army service records, three Confederate bills, and a few genealogical notes made by Deal's grandson.